Drama


Welcome to Paddington Academy's Drama Department!
Drama plays a very important role in academy life. We strive to provide a varied and interesting curriculum in the classroom and a wide range of extra curricular activities and regular high quality performances throughout the year. Students are of all ages take part in performances which include the winter pantomime, the summer show and key stage 3, 4 and 5 performances. The school pantomime Aladdin wowed audiences this year with its skilled acting, singing and dance performances and a wealth of special effects, lighting and sound effects. With the use of the internal outstanding facilities including a fully equipped, state of the art theatre and studio theatre and two Drama Studios, we aim to develope student’s drama skills as well as personal skills to enrich their time at the Academy and in their lives beyond. GCSE, B Tec and A Level Training and education in the classroom and the theatre offer performance skills, hands on technical skills, and knowledge of practitioners, explorative strategies and drama mediums and elements. Our talented faculty brings a wealth of professional expertise and teaching excellence to our classrooms. The Drama Department aims to encourage confidence, creativity and technical skills in all students through the delivery of a personalised and diverse curriculum. Stephanie Harris: Teacher of Drama Mark Bernard: Teacher of Drama Mark Pattenden: Vice Principal and Line Manager of Performing Arts La Tanya Rhooms: Teacher of Drama and Media

Key stage 3 drama
Drama is always a popular choice at Key Stage 4 Students are given the opportunity to move in three different directions. Students study a GCSE course, a Btec acting course or a Btec in Production.
Key stage 4 drama
The Key Stage 3 Schemes of Work focus on key skills and practical work and aim to engage and inspire all students to achieve their potential in drama and to explore dramatic texts and real life events. To achieve this aim, the schemes focus on important dramatic texts and genres and an exploration of real life events through drama.
Key stage 5 drama
Students follow the A Level course. Students learn about the development of the Theatre through the study of key texts and develop their own acting skills. This year the A level production has been a huge success. The performance explored the events surrounding the execution of Derek Bentley and was a success with the audience and as an examined piece.

Drama Curriculum Yearly Overview
TOPIC (Lessons)	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5	Term 6
Year 7	Journeys		Darkwood Manor		Refugees
	The story of Odysseus. Introduction to drama using overall theme. Learning and building their basic drama skills and knowledge – Teamwork, Role play, Improvisation, Character development, Body language, Still image, Thought tracking and Structure. Creating practical work and assessing themselves and one another.		Introduction to physical theatre based on a story. Students develop skills learnt in previous term and learn new skills – Exploring the use of your body to create setting, developing characters using vocal techniques and movement, creating atmosphere through use of voice, instruments and lights.		Exploration of a different life to their own. To explore the emotional journey that a refugee may face and to introduce Stanislavski techniques. Using role play, thought tracking, marking the moment, still image to tell a story.
Year 8	The Winds of War- Anne Frank		Masks- An introduction- What are they for and why do we use them?		Commedia Dell Arte
	Developing skills from year 7. Looking at the connection between history and drama and using the dramatic process to tell a real story (1945-1939 War theme) New skills learnt – Status, levels, Cross cutting and conflict		The basic introduction to mask and this will incorporate body language and story telling, incorporating physical theatre New skills learnt – Non naturalistic, Characterisation, Hot seating Space and proxemics.		To enable students access a theatrical genre though workshop lessons. To use techniques of mime, clocking the audience, role play and use of voice to introduce and explore comedy, comic stage business, status, agenda, morality, touring performance and develop mask work. Student to focus on adopting and portraying stock character, though a scenario plot format.
Year 9	Antigone	Blood Brothers	Too much punch for Judy	Soap Operas	Macbeth	Let Him have it
	Looking at the issue of moral dilemmas Looking at the use of scripts and performance incorporating performance skills	Developing the theme of decisions and moral dilemmas, but also looking at linking script to performances	Script work and interpreting a theme. Students will learn to develop a character through the competent use of text	Looking at the structure of Soap Operas, the use of Stock Characters, stereotypes and the use of cliff hangers to build tension.	The study of a Shakespeare text and exploring the themes and imagery that are created throughout.	Taking a historical look at the case of Derek Bentley and capital punishment and exploring and developing a theme through using various drama techniques